Sunday, October 2, 2016

FW: CED Matters - Funding, Publications, Events and Learning

From our colleagues at USDA-Rural Development.

See below for a number of funding opportunities targeting Rural Health and/or Native American programs.

 

From: RA.RD.DCWA2.RDCED [mailto:RDCED@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2016 10:28 AM
Subject: CED Matters - Funding, Publications, Events and Learning

 

Community Economic Development (CED) Matters – Funding, Publications, Events and Learning (9/30)

FUNDING

 

1.      Native Agriculture & Food Systems College Scholarships

First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) is accepting applications for its "First Nations Native Agriculture and Food Systems Scholarship Program" that aims to encourage more Native American college students to enter the agricultural sector in Native communities. First Nations will award 10 scholarships of $1,000 each to Native American college students majoring in agriculture and related fields, including but not limited to: agribusiness management, agronomy, animal husbandry, aquaponics, environmental engineering, fisheries and wildlife, food production and safety, food-related policy and legislation, food science and technology, horticulture, irrigation science, nutrition education, and sustainable agriculture or food systems. Complete information and a link to the online application can be found at www.firstnations.org/grantmaking/scholarship.  All applications must be completed and submitted by 5 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on Wednesday, October 5, 2016.

 

2.      Accreditation Support Initiative (ASI) for Territorial and Freely Associated State Health Agencies
Grants and technical assistance for territorial and freely associated state health agencies to design and implement a project to address self‐identified public health accreditation preparation needs.
Geographic coverage: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Puerto Rico, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and U.S. Virgin Islands
Application Deadline: Oct 20, 2016
Sponsor: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

 

3.      Exploratory/Developmental Surgical Disparities Research (R21)
Grants to support developmental and exploratory research focused on understanding and addressing disparities in surgical care and outcomes in minority and health disparity populations.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Letter of Intent (Optional): Oct 4, 2016
Application Deadline: Nov 4, 2016
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health


4.      Surgical Disparities Research (R01)
Grants to support investigative and collaborative research focused on understanding and addressing disparities in surgical care and outcomes in minority and health disparity populations.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Letter of Intent (Optional): Oct 4, 2016
Application Deadline: Nov 4, 2016
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health


5.      Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellows
A fellowship program designed to develop the capacity of midcareer health professionals and behavioral and social scientists with an interest in health to participate in health policy processes at the federal level.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Nov 15, 2016
Sponsor: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation


6.      Rural Health Network Development Grant Program (RHND)
Grants for healthcare networks in rural areas to assist with increasing access to and improve the quality of healthcare services.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Nov 28, 2016
Sponsor: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

 

7.      Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities

EPA is requesting letters of interest for a new round of Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities technical assistance. EPA will select 25 communities to receive targeted assistance to help overcome barriers to smarter, more environmentally and economically sustainable growth. This assistance will help communities, local governments, and tribal governments improve their capacity to implement smart growth and other approaches that protect the environment, improve public health, and expand economic opportunity.

Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on October 12, 2016.

Read the 2016-2017 Request for Letters of Interest for information on how to apply.

 

8.      Accountable Health Communities: Track 1 – Awareness
This funding opportunity announcement is for the Track 1 – Awareness track only and includes the following elements: (1) screening of community-dwelling beneficiaries to identify certain unmet health-related social needs and (2) referral of community-dwelling beneficiaries to increase awareness of community services.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Nov 3, 2016
Sponsor: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services


9.      Delta Health Care Services Grant Program
Provides financial assistance to address unmet health needs in the Delta Region through cooperation among health care professionals, institutions of higher education, research institutions, and other entities.
Geographic coverage: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee
Application Deadline: Nov 7, 2016
Sponsor: USDA Rural Development


10.   Service Area Competition Funding for Health Center Program (Areas Served with a Project Period Start Date of May 1, 2017)
Funding to provide comprehensive primary health care services to an underserved area or population.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Nov 7, 2016
Sponsor: Bureau of Primary Health Care


11.   Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)
Offers grants to fire departments and EMS organizations for equipment, training, personnel wellness programs, capital funding, and collaboration efforts.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Nov 18, 2016
Sponsors: Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security


12.   Farm to School Grant Program
Grants to plan, establish, or sustain a Farm to School program that improves access to local foods in schools.
Geographic coverage: Nationwide
Application Deadline: Dec 8, 2016
Sponsor: USDA Food and Nutrition Service

PUBLICATIONS

1.      Millennials' Take on Economy

Millennials internalized the effects of the most recent recession and revealed their beliefs about the economy and jobs future in a recent poll conducted by EY, a professional services company, and the Economic Innovation Group. Nearly one-third believe their community is still in a recession and 78 percent are worried about having good-paying job opportunities, according to the poll. Hard work is an important factor to get ahead in life, say 88 percent of the 18-34 year olds, and two-thirds say having a college education is important, but just 49 percent believe the benefits of a college education will be worth the cost. More than half feel a great deal of confidence about the military and colleges and universities, but other institutions such as the government, organized religion and the news media garner far less confidence. While 78 percent consider entrepreneurs successful and 62 percent have considered starting their own business, 42 percent cite the lack of financial means as the top obstacle to launching a startup. Instead, Millennials appear to prefer to climb the corporate ladder, with 44 percent saying the best way to advance their career is by staying at one company and working their way up the ladder and another 25 percent cite moving between different companies and advancing along the way.  Only 22 percent felt that starting their own company would be the best way to advance.

 

2.      EDA Seeks Comments on Regional Innovation Program

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) requests public comment on the overarching regulatory framework for the Regional Innovation Program. Comments should focus on the structure and implementation of the Regional Innovation Program, including Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) grants. Through the RIS program, EDA awards grants for capacity-building programs that provide proof-of-concept and commercialization assistance to innovators and entrepreneurs, as well as operational support for organizations that provide essential early stage funding to startup companies. Comments should address one or more of several topics including, but not limited to:

·        Purpose and scope of the Regional Innovation Program and/or RIS program;

·        Program eligibility and matching share requirements; and,

·        RIS Application components, evaluation, and selection criteria.

Comments must be submitted by November 21. 

 

3.      Broadband Availability and Rural Entrepreneurship

Because existing evidence points to the presence of broadband as having a positive connection to the economic health in rural areas, numerous states and the federal government have made increasing broadband in these places a top priority.  In particular, many rural areas view broadband as an important tool in attracting entrepreneurs and other creative-class employees. Although this tactic is well intentioned, new research suggests that the association between expanded rural broadband availability and the proliferation of entrepreneurship and creative-class employees may not be as strong as one might think, and that the relationship may actually be negative. Read more...

 

4.      Tom Vilsack's Lonely Fight for a 'Forgotten' Rural America
Sep 26, 2016 -- Details Secretary Tom Vilsack's efforts to address the opioid epidemic, the evolution of his career, and his focus on the needs of rural America.
Source: The Washington Post

 

5.      Committee Passes Bill to Reform the Indian Health Service

The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs passed the Indian Health Service Accountability Act of 2016 which is anticipated to improve patient safety and quality of care by increasing accountability and transparency at the Indian Health Service. The committee passed this act based on feedback from tribes and the administration to address what they characterized as persistent failures by the Indian Health Service.
Source: United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

 

6.      State of Obesity 2016: Better Policies for a Healthier America
Report on obesity related trends and topics. Includes data and statistics for both adults and children and provides examples of successful programs and policies across the country. Also addresses obesity and chronic disease trends in both urban and rural areas.
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
Date: 09/2016

 

7.      SNAP Participation Shows Marked Decline

The number of people participating in USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been declining now for several years from a high of nearly 48 million people back in 2013 to a little more than 43 million in June. That is a drop of about 4.4 million people. This downward trend is encouraging but should [...]

 

8.      In 2015, 42.2 million people lived in food-insecure households

USDA measures food security status at the household level. Food-insecure households were, at times, unable to acquire adequate food for one or more household members due to insufficient money and other resources. Statistics on the number of persons residing in food-insecure households should be interpreted carefully. Within a food-insecure household, different household members may have been affected differently. Some members—particularly young children—may have experienced only mild effects of food insecurity or none at all, while adults were more severely affected. In 2015, 42.2 million people lived in food-insecure households. Out of these individuals, 14.6 million lived in households in the severe range of food insecurity, described as very low food security. Households with very low food security were food insecure to the extent that eating patterns of one or more household members were disrupted and food intake was reduced at some point during the year. The statistics for this chart are from Statistical Supplement to Household Food Security in the United States in 2015, AP-072, released on September 7, 2015.

9.      American adults who eat at fast food places averaged 2.7 visits a week in 2014

Eating out accounts for a significant share of Americans' food budgets and diets. ERS analysis of data from the Eating and Health Module of the American Time Use Survey provides a snapshot of which household types are purchasing "fast food" and how often. Fast food in the analysis includes prepared food from a deli, carry-out and delivery food, and food from a fast food restaurant. Over an average week in 2014, 58.2 percent of American adults purchased fast food and those who purchased fast food did so an average of 2.7 times. Couples with children were the most likely to purchase fast food (64.5 percent), whereas single-person households were the least likely (51.1, percent). However, single-person households had the highest average number of weekly fast food purchases. Men who purchased fast food did so an average of 3 times per week, whereas women who had purchased fast food averaged 2.5 times.

 

10.   Median Household Income Increases First Time Since 2007

The U.S. Census Bureau announced on Tuesday that median household income increased to $56,516 in 2015, a jump of 5.2 percent from the 2014 median income of $53,718 and the first increase since 2007. However, real median household income in 2015 was 1.6 percent lower than in 2007, the year before the Great Recession, and 2.4 percent lower than the median household income peak, which occurred in 1999. Ten states (HI, KY, MT, NH, OR, RI, TN, VT, WI and WY) and the District of Columbia saw median household incomes increase by more than 5 percent, although with the margin of error it is possible that some of these states saw increases of less than 1 percent, according to data presented in Table 1 of Household Income: 2015. Only Puerto Rico saw the median household income decline from 2014 levels; ID and NJ saw increases of less than 1 percent. The U.S. Census Bureau also announced that the nation's official poverty rate in 2015 was 13.5 percent, a 1.2 percentage point decrease in the poverty rate from 2014. The decrease represents the largest annual percentage point drop in poverty since 1999. The findings are contained in Income and Poverty in the United States: 2015.

 

11.   Communities That Work Partnership Highlights Best Practices in Matching Jobs to Skills

The Communities That Work Partnership, a national project to support industry-led workforce development efforts, has released seven case studies highlighting what it considers to be best practices for regions seeking ways to strengthen talent pipelines for local employers and improve access to quality employment for jobseekers. Launched in April 2015 by the Aspen Institute Workforce Strategies Initiative and the Economic Development Administration, with additional support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the partnership has two goals: to accelerate regional economic development through peer learning, and to document stories of how regional teams can improve links between the demand side and supply side of regional systems. Read more...

 

12.   White House Blog: Local Foods, Local Places Empowers Creative Economic Development in Rural and Urban Communities

Local Foods, Local Places, an effort to support communities that are building local food systems, is empowering local leaders and citizens to strengthen their communities

Learn more about the Local Foods, Local Places

 

13.   Rural America at a Glance - United States Department of Agriculture Fact Sheet

An important indicator of economic recovery is employment. After several years of stagnation, the pace of employment growth in rural areas increased in 2014. Employment gains were significantly higher over the past year compared to previous years in the recovery period, although rural employment remains below pre-recession levels. Rural areas continue to experience population loss, higher poverty rates, and lower educational attainment than urban areas.

View Rural America at A Glance - United States Department of Agriculture Fact Sheet

EVENTS/LEARNING

1.      October is National Cooperative Month!

As part of this month's celebration, USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is holding a series of training and informational webinars to showcase the many important ways cooperatives empower our daily lives. For the full calendar of events for Co-op Month, visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/cooperative-programs, or to request special accommodations, please contact rdced@wdc.usda.gov.

a.      Oct. 11, 2016 Cooperative Board Training 101

1-2:15 pm EST Speaker: Margaret Bau, RBS Cooperative Programs

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/x3d3w44ec7ex&eom  

 

b.      Oct. 13, 2016 Cooperative Legal Basics

2-3:15 pm EST Facilitator: Meegan Moriarty, RBS Cooperative Programs

Speakers: Todd R. Eskelsen, Schiff Hardin, LLP and Marlis Carson, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/fjn0raup3sgh&eom 

 

c.      Oct. 18, 2016 When the Last Grocery Store Closes – Exploring Cooperative Options

2-3:15 pm EST Facilitator: Margaret Bau, RBS Cooperative Programs

Speakers: Dr. David Proctor, Rural Grocery Initiative, Kansas State University and Marnie Thompson, Fund 4 Democratic Communities

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/v92f7ysqo9k0&eom  

 

d.      Oct 19, 2016 Farm to School and the Role of Cooperatives – Producer and Buyer Perspectives

2-3:15 pm EST Facilitator: James Barham, RBS Cooperative Programs

Speakers: Andrea Northup, USDA Food Nutrition Service, Jennie Rengert, Fifth Season Cooperative, Krista Garand, Durango School District, and Janet Fogel, Mancos School District

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/jlm99m0d6tul&eom 

 

e.      Oct. 25, 2016 #CoopYouth: Telling our Stories

2-3:15 pm EST Facilitator: Scott Cessarich, RBS Cooperative Programs

Speakers: Jesus Lucero, USA Cooperative Youth Council, Hnin Hnin, Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive, and Morgan Crawford, North American Students of Cooperation

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/57tvjzrooxe4&eom 

 

f.       Oct. 27, 2016 Celebrating Diversity: Race and Ethnicity in the Cooperative Movement

10:30 am-12 pm EST Facilitator: Claudette Fernandez, RBS Cooperative Programs / Community Economic Development

(Whitten Bldg - 107A) Speakers: Cornelius Blanding, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Mai Nguyen, California Center for Cooperative Development, and Nikki Marin Baena, Southern Reparations Loan Fund

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/8gljluzevxt8&eom

 

2.      Visionaries PBS Series Documentary: September 29, 2016, 5:30-7:00 pm Eastern Time

Highlights 7 Cooperative's Stories in U.S. and Around World

• Location: Capital Visitors Center Washington, D.C.

• NCBA - Celebrating 100 years of service

 

3.      Department of Labor Online Skills Repository

The Department of Labor has launched an online skills repository, www.SkillsCommons.org.  Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grantees are required to openly license any learning materials developed through the grant and share those materials through this free and open repository, creating what has become the world's largest Open Educational Resource (OER) project featuring job-driven workforce development materials, with more resources added regularly. SkillsCommons.org now contains learning materials and program support materials for job-driven workforce development in 16 high-demand fields including sectors within manufacturing, healthcare, energy, and information technology.  All 256 TAACCCT grantees, involving nearly 700 of the nation's 1,100 community colleges, are contributing materials.  More than 6,000 resources are already available for download, featuring curricula for both short and long-term courses leading to industry-recognized credentials.  All teaching, learning, and supporting materials on SkillsCommons.org are available under a Creative Commons license that allows others to use and adapt the materials at no cost.

 

For more CED-related content please subscribe to the following:

Interagency Working Group on Cooperative Development

Cooperative Reports, Publications, and Statistics

Rural Cooperative Magazine

Placed Based Initiatives & Regional Programs

Community Economic Development

 

To subscribe or unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an email to RDCED@wdc.usda.gov.

 

Newsletters and email from which we gather this information include:

v Foundation Center RFP Service - To subscribe visit: http://foundationcenter.org/newsletters/

vTo subscribe to the RAC Health Listserv - click here to go to the subscription form.

vElectronic newsletter of Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. To subscribe click here.

v Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City newsletter: http://www.kansascityfed.org/alert/'

v Blue Avocado Nonprofit Magazine - They have a newsletter on boards and nonprofit management, down-to-earth and useful.  http://www.blueavocado.org/

v Rural LISC e-newsletter - http://www.lisc.org/rural

v National Association for Development Organizations (NADO) – www.nado.org

v ERS - A notification service is provided by USDA's Economic Research Service for Charts of Note and other research to keep you informed of the latest and most relevant research on the topics that interest you. You can subscribe at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Updates/

v Orton Family Foundation – email sign-up - http://www.orton.org/sign_up

 





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Thursday, September 29, 2016

FW: Webinar: Social Network Analysis for the Uninitiated

This listserv is intended to inform and connect Community Resource Development professionals working within the Land Grant Institutions on key issues of common interest. The list is a service of the Southern Rural Development Center. If you have questions regarding the list, please contact Rachel Welborn at rachelw@srdc.msstate.edu

Some of you may be interested in this webinar on how to measure social networks/social interaction.

 

From: national-crd-request@lists.msstate.edu [mailto:national-crd-request@lists.msstate.edu] On Behalf Of Welborn, Rachel
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2016 11:25 AM
To: national-crd@lists.msstate.edu; south-crd@lists.msstate.edu; rrdcdir@lists.msstate.edu
Subject: Webinar: Social Network Analysis for the Uninitiated

 

Feel free to share:

 

 

To learn more:  http://rrdc.info/national_indicators.html    Click on "Webinars"

 

To join the webinar:  https://msues.adobeconnect.com/_a828402417/srdc/

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

FW: Rural Creative Placemaking Summit, Oct. 12-14

_______________________________________________
crenet mailing list
crenet@aaealist.org
http://aaealist.org/mailman/listinfo/crenet_aaealist.org

In case you haven’t heard, there is a very interesting National Rural Creative Placemaking Summit occurring in Iowa City, IA, Oct 12-14 that is focused on the arts and culture as the catalyst. Numerous panels and break-out sessions will feature communities that have successfully done this and share best practices and lessons learned; agenda is attached.

 

Check it out!

 

From: crenet [mailto:crenet-bounces@aaealist.org] On Behalf Of Cordes, Sam M.
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 9:56 PM
To: AAEA (crenet@aaealist.org)
Subject: [AAEA CRENET] Rural Creative Placemaking Summit, Oct. 12-14
Importance: High

 

Dear Colleagues…

 

Attached is the final program for what I believe will be a very interesting and stimulating conference. Consider attending…..and even if you are unable to do so, please share this information with your colleagues and networks.

 

You may register by clicking on the following https://ruralgeneration.org/national-summit/.

 

Thank you.

 

Sam

 

Sam Cordes

Professor and Associate Vice Provost, Emeritus

Center for Regional Development

Purdue University

Friday, September 9, 2016

FW: CED Matters – Funding, Publications, Events and Learning

From our colleagues at USDA-Rural Development. In addition, you may want to let your employers know about this opportunity from OCAST:

The FY17 Intern Partnerships funding announcement is now available on OKGrants.

Application Deadline: October 5, 2016, 5 p.m. CT

Target Contract Start Date: January 1, 2017

All applications must be submitted online through OKGrants. Investigators who have not yet registered to use the system must contact their research administrator for access; OCAST will not approve investigator accounts. More information about OKGrants, including user manuals, can be found on the OCAST website.

All applications must be completed and be in Application Submitted status by 5:00 p.m. on October 5.  No applications, supplemental materials or changes will be allowed after the deadline. No changes will be allowed to any application once it has been submitted.

 

And a couple of additional webinars:

Title: Intermediary Perceptions of Rural Firm Tech Adoption

Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Time: 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time

Webinar Access: https://ncrcrd.adobeconnect.com/newtech/

 

Description: We will share results from interviews of different Michigan organizations that provide support to rural firms.  Our research goals, identify: (1) barriers that restrict rural firms' success in regards to technology adoption; and (2) strategies that can be used to avoid or overcome these barriers. To help achieve these goals, we will also ask for your input—the webinar participants—during the presentation. Our preliminary results presented here are based on interviews of intermediary organizations that work closely with rural firms, including MSU Extension, local Chambers of Commerce, economic development corporations, small business development corporations, USDA RD, and incubators. Our premise is framed around technology adoption—it is a key component of a firm's competitiveness and long-term success, and affects the economic health of the community in which it resides. Thus, it is critical to identify the obstacles and opportunities that firms encounter in relation to technology adoption. We hope you can join us!

 

About Our Presenter: Rachel Poole is a graduating senior and honors student at the James Madison College at Michigan State University, and Budget and Policy Assistant at the State of Michigan Budget Office. Rachel is part of the research team for the USDA funded project "Launching Innovations from the University Starting Gate" where she helped kick-start the project by leading an initial investigation into the barriers rural firms face regarding technology adoption. She is also the lead author on the first of several papers related to the project, results of which are being presented in this webinar.

 

To access the free webinar (registration is not necessary): On Wednesday, September 21, go to: https://ncrcrd.adobeconnect.com/newtech/ and select "Enter as a Guest" and type your name or organization in the box below. You will then be directed to the NCRCRD Innovations in Agriculture Adobe Connect page. Currently, a flyer for the upcoming webinar is posted on the page.

 

This webinar is part of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) continuing series "Innovations in Agriculture and Rural Development."

Previous webinars are available at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCspn-n-OKLLftQ58S2JFkQg

 

Becoming the New US: Advancing Immigrant Families in Rural America


LUNCH PANEL AND DISCUSSION
October 6, 12:00-1:30 ET
The Aspen Institute
1 Dupont Circle NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC

Lunch will be available beginning at 11:30 ET.

 

Register Now

I can't attend, but I'd like to receive a link to the livestream.

 

 

From: RA.RD.DCWA2.RDCED [mailto:RDCED@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2016 11:31 AM
Subject: CED Matters – Funding, Publications, Events and Learning

 

Community Economic Development (CED) Matters – Funding, Publications, Events and Learning (9/9)

FUNDING

1.      DHS Announces $40M to Support Cybersecurity Focused COEs, Free Cybersecurity Training for Vets

In August, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced over $40 million in available federal funding for a new DHS Center of Excellence (COE) for Homeland Security Quantitative Analysis via two federal funding opportunities (FFO). The proposed COEs will conduct end user-focused research to enhance the application of analytic tools that support real-time decision making and address homeland security-related threats and hazards. DHS also announced that it will provide free cybersecurity training and certification prep courses to military veterans through a new partnership with Hire our Heroes– a nonprofit focused on providing workforce services to transitioning military members. Read more...

 

2.      Culture of Health Prize (RWJF)

Purpose: Recognizes standout communities that are addressing broad health needs in education, employment, family/social support, and community safety. Eligibility: Cities and towns/incorporated places and federally recognized tribes. Funding: $25,000. Deadline: November 3, 2017.

 

3.      USDA Announces Initiative to Provide Transitional Housing for Rural Americans in Recovery from Substance Use Disorders

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an initiative that will use USDA's rural development resources to help fill the need for transitional housing for people recovering from opioid and other substance use disorders. In January, President Obama tasked Vilsack, who is chair of the White House Rural Council, with leading a federal interagency effort focused on rural opioid use. The initiative is the result of a conversation Secretary Vilsack had in May in New Hampshire at the Hillsborough County Superior Court, where individuals involved with the state's drug court program told him that a lack of access to affordable housing made it challenging for participants to successfully complete their recovery from addiction.

 

4.      USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and new assistance for organic farmers

Purpose: USDA's Farm Service Agency provides financial and technical assistance to address agriculture conservation practices related to: drinking water protection, reducing soil erosion, preserving wildlife habitats, preserving/restoring forests/wetlands, and aiding farmers whose farms are damaged by natural disasters. USDA intends to help fund and assist organic farmers to establish 20,000 acres of new conservation buffers and other practices on and near their farms. Date: CRP continuous is ongoing. Location: Nationwide.

 

5.      Transporting Health Food Grants (Conservation Fund)

Purpose: Funds organizations projects that support processing and distribution of fresh produce and perishable food in 22 states. Eligibility: government agencies or 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations involved in local foods distribution. Funding: $2,000 to $10,000 grants. Deadline: September 15, 2016.

 

6.      Homegrown By Heroes

Purpose: Promotes farmer veterans point-of-sale visibility, business planning and food safety support from the Farmer Veteran Coalition, and an avenue to share the veteran's story. The program is a marketing initiative started by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and expanded nationally by the Veteran Farmer Coalition. Dates: Annually renewable. Location: Nationwide.

 

7.      Let's Move! Salad Bars to Schools

Purpose: Provides technical and financial support to install salad bars in schools. The initiative is jointly sponsored by United Fresh, the White House, the Center for Disease Control, and others. Dates: rolling application. Location: Nationwide.

 

8.      Action for Healthy Kids Grants

Purpose: Funds variety of school wellness projects involving breakfast, nutrition, and physical activity. Eligibility: Select states. Funding: $500 - $5000 Breakfast grants; $500 - $1000 Game on Grants. Deadline: September 16, 2016.

 

9.      School Fruit and Veggie Grants

Purpose: Awards school projects that help kids learn about and eat more fruits and vegetables. Sponsored by Skoop and Chef Ann Foundation. Eligibility: Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. Schools with greater than 50% free and reduced eligible enrollment encouraged to apply. Funding: $2500/school. Deadline: Available until funding is depleted.

 

10.   Food and Agricultural Sciences Graduate/Postgraduate Fellowship Grants Program (NIFA)

Purpose: Funds graduate level research projects in the areas of food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Eligibility: Colleges and universities, land grant institutions. Funding: $4,500 - $262,000. Deadline: October 11, 2016.

PUBLICATIONS

1.      Bill to Promote Investment, Economic Development in Rural Areas

Legislation recently introduced by U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) would extend tax credits to job creators in rural communities and take steps to roll back regulatory hurdles to rural economic growth.

 

2.      Affordable Care Act Gives New Farmers the Freedom to Farm

Purpose: Provides a variety of affordable insurance plans specifically for rural Americans. An estimated eight out of ten may qualify for financial assistance to help pay for coverage. Dates: See website. Location: Nationwide.

 

3.      First Census-Led Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs Finds Women, Minorities Are Underrepresented

Researchers of American entrepreneurship now have a timelier socio-economic portrait of the nation's employer-owned businesses as a result of a public-private partnership between the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency, and the Kauffman Foundation. Last week, data from the first Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs were made publicly available, which provides a detailed picture of the American entrepreneur in 2014 by examining race, ethnicity, gender, and geography. A brief released by the Census Bureau notes that more than 480,000 firms with paid employees (roughly 8.9 percent) of the 5.4 million U.S. firms with paid employees in 2014 had been in business for less than two years, according to the recent Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs data. Read more...

 

4.      Improving Early Literacy in PreK-3: Lessons Learned
Increasing the number of students reading at grade level by the third grade requires a coherent pre-K through third grade pathway, effective leadership, greater collaboration among teachers, and effective use of data, a report from the McKnight Foundation finds.... More  »

 

5.      Faculty Position Announcement: Assistant Specialist in Cooperative Extension – Community Economic Development, Department of Human Ecology, UC Davis Campus.                            

The Department of Human Ecology, internationally recognized as a premier center of excellence in research, teaching, and extension, is seeking applications for a Specialist in Cooperative Extension (CE) at the Assistant rank in the field of Community Economic Development. The mission of the Department of Human Ecology is to develop and disseminate comprehensive basic and applied knowledge regarding the human ecology of people, place, and power. A Cooperative Extension (CE) Specialist is being recruited to conduct original applied research resulting in information that can be applied toward effective community economic development strategies in California and to develop an extension education and outreach program that extends information to various clientele (e.g., elected officials, community-based organizations and economic development and/or planning agencies) including under-represented groups. Applications should be submitted on-line at http://recruit.ucdavis.edu/. Additional inquiries should be directed to Clare Gupta (cgupta@ucdavis.edu).

 

6.      Ten percent of all land in farms is expected to be transferred during 2015-19

The relatively advanced age of the U.S. farming population—about a third of principal farm operators in 2014 were at least age 65 compared with 12 percent of self-employed workers in nonagricultural businesses—has sparked interest in the manner in which land will be transferred to other landowners, including the next generation of farm operators. Farmland owners planned to transfer 93 million acres in the next 5 years (2015-19)—10 percent of all land in farms—through a variety of means. Landowners anticipated selling 3.8 percent of all farmland, with just 2.3 percent planned to be sold to non-relatives. A larger share of land (6.5 percent) is expected to be transferred through trusts, gifts, and wills. The share of farmland available for purchase by non-relatives during 2015-19 will likely rise above 2.3 percent as some individuals (or entities) that inherit land may choose to sell it. And, those who inherit land but don't sell it may decide to rent it out to farm operators. In 2014, 39 percent of all farmland was rented and 61 percent was owned by farm operators.

 

7.      Rural Students Face Barriers to College Access, Study Finds

Students from rural communities who want to attend college face unique challenges in their pursuit of higher education, a study from the University of Georgia finds. Conducted by Darris R. Means, an assistant professor in the university's College of Education, the study included interviews with African-American students and staff members in a rural southeastern high school regarding their views of college and college access. While many students had parents who pushed them to go to college, that encouragement was tempered by a lack of resources. For instance, students felt they did not have access to academically rigorous classes or enough time with counselors who could help with the college admission process. They also felt constrained by pressure to attend a school closer to home for family reasons or felt out of place on campuses that lacked diversity. The study also found that in addition to geographic location, race plays a role in whether a student matriculates....

 

8.      Prevalence of food insecurity in 2015 was lower than 2014, still above level before Great Recession

In 2015, 87.3 percent of U.S. households were food secure throughout the year. The remaining 12.7 percent (15.8 million households) were food insecure; they had difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food for all their members due to a lack of resources. The percentage of U.S. households that were food insecure declined from 14.0 percent in 2014. Additionally, in 2015, 5.0 percent of U.S. households (6.3 million households) had very low food security. In this more severe range of food insecurity, the food intake of some household members was reduced and normal eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year due to limited resources. The rate, or prevalence, of very low food security in 2015 declined significantly from that in 2014 (5.6 percent). The 2015 declines in food insecurity and very low food security prevalence were the largest year-to-year changes in these rates since the two rates rose in 2008.

 

9.      White House Announces Proposed New Rule for Immigrant Entrepreneurs

Immigrant entrepreneurs would be allowed to remain in the United States for an initial period of up to two years, and, conditional upon meeting certain benchmarks, could potentially stay in the country for one additional period of up to three years under a newly proposed rule by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As part of the International Entrepreneur Rule, which is now open for a 45-day comment period, certain international entrepreneurs would have an opportunity to start or scale their businesses in the United States. In an official blog post by White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Deputy Director for Technology and Innovation Tom Kalil and Assistant Director for Entrepreneurship Doug Rand, the authors note that the new reform would propose clear criteria to identify those entrepreneurs with the potential to provide significant public benefit to the United States. Evaluating entrepreneurs on a case-by-case basis, the proposed rule would consider factors such as: the entrepreneur's ownership stake (at least 15 percent) and leadership role in the startup; the growth potential of the startup; competitive research grants of at least $100,000 from federal, state, and local government agencies provided to the firm; and the investment of at least $345,000 by qualified American investors. Read more...

 

10.   Climate change is projected to cause declines and shifts in fieldcrop acreage across U.S. regions

Climate models predict U.S. agriculture will face changes in local patterns of precipitation and temperature over the next century. These climate changes will affect crop yields, crop-water demand, water-supply availability, farmer livelihoods, and consumer welfare. Using projections of temperature and precipitation under nine different scenarios, ERS research projects that climate change will result in a decline in national fieldcrop acreage in 2080 when measured relative to a scenario that assumes continuation of reference climate conditions (precipitation and temperature patterns averaged over 2001-08). Acreage trends show substantial variability across climate change scenarios and regions. When averaged over all climate scenarios, total acreage in the Mountain States, Pacific, and Southern Plains is projected to expand, while acreage in other regions--most notably the Corn Belt and Northern Plains--declines. Over half of all fieldcrop acreage in the U.S. is found in the Corn Belt and Northern Plains, and projected declines in these regions represent 2.1 percent of their combined acreage. Irrigated acreage for all regions is projected to decline, but in some regions increases in dryland acreage offset irrigated acreage losses. The acreage response reflects projected changes in regional irrigation supply as well as differential yield impacts and shifts in relative profitability across crops and production practices under the climate change scenarios.

EVENTS/LEARNING

1.      Health Benefits Laws Compliance Assistance Webcast: The Affordable Care Act and Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act

If you are an employer who is trying to comply, or if you are a third party administrator or insurer with questions about the Affordable Care Act or the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, this is your chance to hear from the experts and ask questions.  Join us for this webcast.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

September 14, 2016 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET

 

2.      Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies at Work in Illinois | Thursday, September 15, 2016 | Noon - 1pm
Economic Development requires effective, collaborative institutions focused on advancing mutual gain for the public and the private sector. Economic Development is essential to ensuring our economic future. Actively participating in regional Economic Development Districts to create Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies is working for both rural and urban communities throughout our state. 

Darrin Fleener, economic development representative from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration's Chicago regional office, will provide an overview of the regional planning process. Prior to EDA, Fleener worked for 13 years with the State of Oregon's economic development department in project management, program development, government relations, and as a rural affairs policy advisor. His professional experience includes working in both urban and rural distressed communities.  Also presenting will be Jennifer Daly, CEO of Greater Peoria Economic Development District. Daly will share Peoria's approach to creating a regionally driven economic development process as well as outcomes that have been achieved through this new strategy. There is no cost to attend the webinar; however, pre-registration is required. Register online to attend or contact Kathie Brown (309-255-9189, brownlk@illinois.edu) for more information.

 

3.      CSET 8.0 New User Webinar

ICS-CERT welcomes all industrial control systems owners and operators across all sectors to join us for an introductory webinar on using the Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSET®), a free Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stand-alone desktop software that guides users through a step-by-step process to assess their control system and IT network security practices against recognized standards.

September 20, 2016 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET

 

4.      Rural Business-Cooperative Service Informational Webinars

September is "Rural Development Month" at the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is holding a series of informational webinars to share success stories and best practices on how customers and partner organizations have used RBS programs and resources to support businesses in rural and Tribal communities. Customers and stakeholders interested in learning more about RBS programs—and how customers have used our financing tools to support entrepreneurship—are encouraged to participate in this opportunity to engage with diverse partner organizations, ask questions, and learn more. For additional information, or to request special accommodations, please contact rdced@wdc.usda.gov.

 

Sept. 13, 2016 Asian-American/Pacific Islanders Business Development Success Stories

2-3:30 pm EST Facilitator: Tim O'Connell, RBS Community Economic Development

Speaker: Tin Myaing Thein, Ph.D., Pacific Gateway Center

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/b5htudhc9x51&eom  

 

Sept. 14, 2016 Nature+Commerce: Recreational Business Development Success Stories 2-3:30 pm EST Facilitator: AngelaCallie, RBS Community Economic Development

Speaker: Rob Riley, Northern Forest Center

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/5dapkg6w1z1p&eom 

 

Sept. 15, 2016 El Sueño de Ser Dueño de un Negocio - The Dream to be a Business Owner

2-3:30 pm EST Facilitator: Margaret Bau, RBS Cooperative Programs

Speakers: John Flory and Yolanda Cotterall, Latino Economic Development Center; Reggie Knoxx and Brett Malone, California FarmLink

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/3bxtviuytrzo&eom  

 

Sept. 16, 2016 USDA Rural Development Programs for Native American Entrepreneurs

2-3:30 pm EST Facilitator: Tedd Buelow, USDA Rural Development

Speakers: Tedd Buelow, USDA Rural Development,

Bill Hamilton, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Small Business Development Services

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/fjlpl2av6nfs&eom 

 

Sept. 20, 2016 Turning a National Guard Armory Into a Business Center (tentative)

2-3:30 pm EST Facilitator: Greg Dale, RBS Community Economic Development

Speaker: Brenda Tuck, Marengo County Economic Development Authority

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/268jju8giif9&eom

 

Sept. 22, 2016 Stronger Economies Together: Regional Planning & Business Development 2-3:30 pm EST Success Stories

Facilitator: Hiwot Gebremariam, RBS Community Economic Development

Speakers: Larry Wright, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension;

Janice Stroud-Bickes, USDA Rural Development in Virginia, Martha Walker, Virginia Tech University Cooperative Extension; Peggy Schlechter, South Dakota State University;

Paul Johnson, Jill Rees, USDA Rual Development in Oregon, Amanda Hoey, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (tentative)

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/53wa6i1fghb4&eom 

 

Sept. 27, 2016 Cooperatives as a Tool for Community Solutions

1-2:30 pm EST Facilitator: Margaret Bau, USDA Rural Development, Co-op Basics

Speaker:

Converting existing businesses to employee ownership, Rob Brown,

Cooperative Development Institute, Maine

Turning trailer parks into resident owned communities, Diane Gasaway,

Northwest Cooperative Development Center, Washington:

From farmworkers to farm owners, John Flory,

Latino Economic Development Center, Minnesota

Home care agencies as worker co-ops, Deborah Craig,

Northwest Cooperative Development Center, Washington

When the last grocery store closes, Marnie Thompson,

Fund 4 Democratic Communities, North Carolina

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/7y7n5ugyh3ka&eom 

 

Sept. 29, 2016 Local Food Financing and Cooperative Business Models

2-2:30 pm EST Speaker & Facilitator: Jim Barham, USDA Rural Development

Speaker: Margaret Bau, USDA Rural Development

Webinar/Audio: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/2asq8uq2rmsd&eom

 

For more CED-related content please subscribe to the following:

Interagency Working Group on Cooperative Development

Cooperative Reports, Publications, and Statistics

Rural Cooperative Magazine

Placed Based Initiatives & Regional Programs

Community Economic Development

 

To subscribe or unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an email to RDCED@wdc.usda.gov.

 

Newsletters and email from which we gather this information include:

v Foundation Center RFP Service - To subscribe visit: http://foundationcenter.org/newsletters/

vTo subscribe to the RAC Health Listserv - click here to go to the subscription form.

vElectronic newsletter of Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. To subscribe click here.

v Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City newsletter: http://www.kansascityfed.org/alert/'

v Blue Avocado Nonprofit Magazine - They have a newsletter on boards and nonprofit management, down-to-earth and useful.  http://www.blueavocado.org/

v Rural LISC e-newsletter - http://www.lisc.org/rural

v National Association for Development Organizations (NADO) – www.nado.org

v ERS - A notification service is provided by USDA's Economic Research Service for Charts of Note and other research to keep you informed of the latest and most relevant research on the topics that interest you. You can subscribe at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Updates/

v Orton Family Foundation – email sign-up - http://www.orton.org/sign_up

 

 





This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

FW: USDA September Rural Development Month - Rural Business Success Stories

FYI … A series of webinars this month showcasing some of the great work our colleagues at USDA-Rural Development have made possible. Please share with your stakeholders, boards, community leaders and others to increase awareness of USDA-Rural Development programs and cast vision for what’s possible when we work together!

 

Have a great day!

Dave

 

From: RA.RD.DCWA2.RDCED [mailto:RDCED@wdc.usda.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2016 4:15 PM
To: RA.RD.DCWA2.RDCED
Subject: USDA September Rural Development Month - Rural Business Success Stories

 

Hello Partners and Colleagues,

 

September is “Rural Development Month” at the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is holding a series of informational webinars to share success stories and best practices on how customers and partner organizations have used RBS programs and resources to support and finance businesses in rural and Tribal communities. We have such an exciting and diverse line up of distinguished speakers!  Customers and stakeholders interested in learning more about RBS programs – and how customers have used our financing tools to support rural entrepreneurship and economic development —are encouraged to participate in this opportunity to engage with diverse partner organizations, ask questions, and learn more.

 

Please join these webinars and also do not hesitate to share with others.  For questions or additional information, or to request special accommodations, please contact rdced@wdc.usda.gov.





This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

People too closed to new ideas?

You know how some small town people are just too closed to new ideas? Wouldn't it be great if you could open them up to be idea friendly? We're co-sponsoring this webinar by SaveYour.Town to give you research and practical ideas and solutions that help change some attitudes!  

 

Too often, the Committee of Negativity shoots down every idea they hear with those old hits, "We tried that once" and "That's not how we do things here." How do you start making good things happen? Learn the practical steps you can take to change attitudes, draw a crowd of supporters, improve the environment and create more connections, no matter what the pessimists say or do.

 

If you've been struggling with getting your ideas to happen, then together we'll work through the process to make your town more Idea Friendly. We'll show you how to Gather Your Crowd, Make Connections and Take Small Steps. It all adds up to creating the kind of town you want to live in.

 

I hope you'll join us. The live webinar is Wednesday, September 7, 6pm Central time. The recorded replay will be available September 8-21, anytime on demand. The cost is $20. 

 

You can gather a group of people (positive, open-minded people!) to join you and watch together either live or for a replay any time that works for you. 

 

If you are ready to register go straight here: https://saveyour.town/checkout/?product_id=2131

 

If you still have questions, go here for more details: http://saveyour.town/big-ideas/

 

 

Special thoughts for Tourism folks: 

Your small town tourism pros and their business partners face this same problem! The ideas they're promoting are just like everyone's ideas in small towns: vulnerable to being torn apart in public by the naysayers and haters. We'd love to help them change attitudes and build some "bridging social capital" they can use to make good things happen.